Method for erecting buildings



' J n. 20, 1970 LARS-ERIK EKBLOHM 3, 90, 9

METHOD FOR ERECTING BUILDINGS Filed Sept. 18, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 20, 1970 Filed Sept. 18, 1967 LARSE RIK EKBLOM METHOD FOR ERECTING BUILDINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l I1 f f =F 1970' LARSERIK EK'BLOM 3,490,191

METHOD FOR ERECTING' BUILDINGS Filed Sept. 18, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 N r a H F W r-- i N I! u i 6 T i m 5 m \r m E 1 L% H fi N *2 M W J an T w L? A N 970 LARs-ERxK EKBLO'M 9 3 METHOD. FOR ERECTING BUILDINGS Filed Sept. 18, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent US. Cl. 52-745 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method for erecting buildings includes the steps of providing a plurality of vertical columns arranged in rows. A plurality of prefabricated concrete floor slabs are provided, certain of said slabs being supported adjacent the edges thereof by said vertical columns so that no more than two slabs are supported by any particular column. Further slabs are supported adjacent the outer edges thereof by vertical columns, the inner edges of said further slabs being supported by outer edges of said first-mentioned slabs, the slabs beingprovided with cooperating protruding edges for this purpose, and the joint adjacent said protruding edges being completed with reinforcing means and concrete.

The present invention relates to a method for erecting buildings having a frame-work comprising rows of vertically arranged columns supporting concrete floorings, or slabs, said method comprising the steps of first erecting said columns whereupon said floorings, which generally are prefabricated, are raised to their respective vertical positions and secured to the columns.

Stated in other words, the invention relates to building frame-works of the type generally referred to as the fiat-plate design. When. such a frame-work is not erected by successive concrete casting of columns and floors at the site but by initial erection of the columnsand subsequent securing of the concrete slabs thereto the only method hitherto available has been thev so-called lift-slab method. According to the method suitable lifting devices, generally hydraulic jacks, are mounted on the tops of the columns and by means of those devices the concrete slabs are lifted to their respective mounting levels. However, for the method to be economical and sufiiciently flexible each slab must have such a size that it encloses two or more columns. This does in turn require that the lifting devices used for lifting each individual slab must be mutually synchronized so that the floor slabs are not lifted obliquely. Should such an oblique lifting occur, the columns are subjected to lateral forces of such a magnitude that there is a considerable risk that they are bent or buckled. In order to be safely carried out it is thus, when the lift-slab method is utilized, necessary to dimension the columns so heavily that they can withstand the forces transferred via the lifting devices. It is also necessary to use a complicated and thus very expensive apparatus, namely the synchronized lifting jacks.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a method for mounting building frame-works of the abovementioned type which does not suffer from the drawbacks or limitations above referred to, i.e. it should allow use of slim columns and mounting of the concrete floorings by use of conventional lifting devices, generally available at the building site, to wit ordinary lifting cranes. In carrying out the method according to the invention the slabs are lifted, mounted and secured in such a way'that the majority of columns do each support not more than two slabs so that at joints, parallel to but separated from an "ice imaginary line interconnecting an adjacent row of columns, the slabs on the one side of the joint are utilized to support the slabs at the other side thereof.

Application of the method according to the invention does, in addition to the advantages above referred to, also offer several other possibilities and functions. These will appear from the following description, illustrating one embodiment of the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing erection of a frame-work according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a lateral view of the frame-work shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal view of the frame-work and does particularly illustrate the relative shape and arrangement of the concrete slabs.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal view illustrating a preferred method for joining the slabs.

FIGURE 4A is a section taken along line AA in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4B is a section taken along line BB in FIGURE 4.

Application of the method according to the invention involves no limitation as far as the foundation is concerned because it could be carried out in any known or convenient manner, such as by use of fundament plates on solid soil or of piles or pedestals likewise penetrating down to solid rock or soil. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention foundation on pedestals has been illustrated. It should, however, be emphasized that the corresponding method is, as usual, only dependent of the nature of the sub-soil and not concerned with the invention proper. To the pedestals 1 there are by concrete casting secured columns 2 mounted in such a manner that without any external supports they can withstand the wind loads until having been stabilized by the floorings. In a conventional manner, the columns do further, at each storey, have suitable supporting brackets 2a (FIGURES 1 and 4A) for supporting the floorings. As has been mentioned above, the columns can be very slim. While it is possible to use concrete columns, steel columns are usually preferred. Any cross-sectional form can be used but it has proved particularly economical to utilize tubular columns of rectangular cross-section.

The flooring do preferably consist of high quality reinforced concrete. The invention is in the first place intended for application in the erection of buildings comprising a plurality of mutually like, substantially rectangular room units, each apartment or corresponding entity extending across the building body between the two longitudinal sides thereof. This means, stated in other words, that the walls separating the apartments are parallel to the gables. Under those circumstances it has proved possible and suitable to utilize floorings of two standard sizes only.

However, it is also within thescope of the invention to choose any other number of slab sizes. As appears most clearly from FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the frame-work according'to the embodiment of the invention here illustrated has substantially two types of floorings only, viz. 1 substantially square slabs'3, arranged along the'longitudinal sides of the building, and larger rectangular slabs 4 mounted in a central row between the two outer rows of square slabs 3. FIGURE 2, which shows the building frame-work in end view, and FIGURE 3, do clearly show the arrangement of the slabs relatively thecolumns 2. In accordance with the main characteristics of the invention 'the columns are not located in the crossings between the longitudinal and transversal slab joints,

whereas each transversal row of columns coincides with a lateral joint. This means that at no point in the framework do four slabs meet at one column. Instead, each column does only support two slabs-excepting the corner columns 2', each supporting one slab only, and one column 2" which supports three slabs (FIGURE 3).

It has already been stated that the majority of the slabs are of two different sizes. However, it is often for architectonical and practical reasons suitable to modify some of the slabs. FIGURE 3 shows a building frame-work consisting of two house bodies in staggered parallel relationship and connected by an intermediate house body containing a staircase 5. It appears from the drawing that the floor slabs surrounding the staircase have a form deviating from that of the others and that in one place of the building one column (2") does actually support three floor slabs as above indicated.

FIGURES 1-3 do also show that the larger floor slabs 4 are each supported directly by four columns 2, whereas each of the smaller slabs 3 is in that manner directly supported by two columns only, viz. those located at the longitudinal sides of the building. The drawing does also illustrate that the lateral edge of each individual slab 3 located in opposed relationship to the lateral edge at the facade is supported by an adjacent one of a larger slab 4 so that it is there supported by the columns in an indirect manner only. For that purpose, each of slabs 4 has been provided with suitable supporting means, such as a protruding edge.

FIGURES 4 and 413 do clearly demonstrate one manner of arranging the joints between slabs 3 and 4. Thus, FIGURE 4B shows that each of slabs 3 and 4 has its top reinforcement 6 and 7, respectively, protruding perpendicularly t the direction of the joint so that loops 8 are formed. Those loops, the general form of which can be U or J, are suitably in a manner known per se traversed by longitudinal reinforcement bars 9. Upon completion of that reinforcement work the joint is in a conventional manner filled up with fine concrete.

Joints l0 hitherto dealt with do accordingly extend in the longitudinal direction of the building. The transversal joints 11 are however arranged in quite another way. It should be mentioned that, according to one feature of the invention, the slabs are at those joints mounted at a certain distance from each other, say 1.5- inches (4-12 cm.). This does in a simple way create a passage which can be used for location of tubes, pipes, air-conditioning drums, et cetera. In several cases the location of such installation equipment may be facilitated by use of slabs, the edges of which facing the joint have been given a special profile. By way of example, the joint may in crosssection correspond to an upright or reversed V or the width may be greater at the centre of the joint than at the top and bottom edges of the slabs. It is not necessary to fill up joints 11 with concrete because they could simply be filled with sand after proper sealing of their bottoms.

FIGURE 4A shows fixation of each pair of adjacent slabs 3 and 4 to the columns 2. For that purpose, the slabs have been provided with casting ingots 12 through which concrete is forced under pressure.

It has been mentioned above that in comparison to the prior art methods for erecting building frame-works of the flat-plate type, the invention makes it possible on the one hand to use very slim columns which accordingly are cheap, easy to transport and handle and do not take up much space in the building (by way of example the crosssectional extension of the columns could be 4 x 6 inches) and, on the other, to eliminate the need of special and complicated lifting devices. However, the method according to the invention involves additional advantages.

Thanks to the fact that during the mounting operation, in contradiction to what is the case when the lift-slab method is utilized, the columns do not have to be dimensioned for forces acting at their tops, the problem of attaining lateral stability during the mounting phase is correspondingly facilitated. Since due to the design of joints 10 it is not possible to expect them to withstand any substantial shearing forces it is as a rule necessary to erect at least portions of the gable walls to attain longitudinal stability. On the other hand, this yields a fully sufficient protection. Lateral stability can be obtained by use of conventional supporting arrangements. Further, the slabs are rigidly interconnected at each column. Since they are entirely supported by the columns and no reliance is made on the facades, a corresponding freedom of choice is attained as far as the design of the facades is concerned. It is a special advantage that they could be made of very light material, particularly prefabricated elements, which are mounted floor-wise. From a general point of view it can be established that the different components of the building frame-work and of the remaining portions of the building can be varied Within the scope of the invention. The present invention provides a method of erecting building frame-works of the fiat-plate type where slim columns are utilized and the plates brought into their mounting positions without any aid of lifting devices mounted on the columns so that at least one joint between parallel rows of slabs is separated from an adjacent row of columns.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for erecting buildings comprising providing a plurality of vertically disposed spaced columns arranged in rows, providing a first plurality of prefabricated concrete floor slabs and a second plurality of prefabricated concrete floor slabs, raising said first plurality of slabs so as to support said first plurality of slabs on certain ones of said vertical columns adjacent the edges of said first plurality of slabs with said columns disposed at the joints between adjacent slabs, the edges of adjacent ones of said first plurality of slabs at said joints being spaced from one another, raising said second plurality of slabs and securing them adjacent the outer edges thereof to certain ones of said vertical columns, and supporting the inner edges of said second plurality of slabs on the outer edges of said first plurality of slabs to thereby support said second plurality of slabs in operative position.

2. A method for erecting buildings comprising providing a plurality of vertically disposed spaced columns arranged in rows with said columns extending substantially throughout the height of the building, providing a first plurality of prefabricated concrete floor slabs and a second plurality of prefabricated concrete floor slabs, raising said first plurality of slabs and securing them to said vertical columns so as to support said first plurality of slabs solely on certain ones of said vertical columns adjacent certain edges of said plurality of slabs, raising said second plurality of slabs and securing them adjacent certain edges thereof to certain ones of said vertical columns, and supporting other edges of said second plurality of slabs on other edges of said first plurality of slabs to thereby support said second plurality of slabs in operative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,957,026 5/1934 Lasker 1 52236 2,970,676 2/1961 Maciunas 52262 X 3,331,181 7/1967 Schmidt 5Z745 X 3,354,593 11/1967 Zukas 52-745 X OTHER REFERENCES Prefabricated Buildings in Poland, J. Kopciowski, Prefabrication, October, 1957, pp. 550-551.

FRANK IL. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner PRICE C. FAW, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52126, 236, 263 

